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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

This is my very good and beautiful friend Priya, who lives in Philly. We've been friends from our college days. She visited India too, in December, when I was there. We met up with old friends and had a blast.

She gave me this wonderful recipe for prawn vindhali. She says it's a recipe from Thirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. It is a very simple and delicious dish. I tried it and loved it. Thought I must give her the credit for the recipe. So, kudos to you, Priya. And thanks a bundle pal :)

Ingredients:

Cleaned prawns - 1 pound (abt. 1/2 kg)

Vinegar - 4-5 tbspns

Onion - 1 large (chopped)

Garlic - 6-7 cloves (chopped)

Ginger - 1 inch thick piece (chopped)

Oil - 4-5 tbspns

Red chillis - 10

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tspn

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tspn

Mustard seeds- 1-1/2 tspn

Curry leaves - 2 sprigs

Water - 1/4 cup

Salt to taste

Directions:

Lightly dry roast the red chillis, mustard and cumin seeds in a pan.

Grind this to a paste with a 2-3 tbspns of vinegar (do not add water at all to this mixture)

Marinate the prawns in this paste for about 30 mins.

Heat oil in a pan and add onions, garlic and ginger and saute for 4-5 mins.

Add turmeric powder.

Add the marinated prawns, salt and vinegar and fry well.( For about 4-5 mins)

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

I never make resolutions because they are hard to keep. All you strong-willed folks may be smirking at me. But, I do plan to stay active and fit this year. How about you guys? What have you planned for 2010? (Maybe, I'm too late in asking you this question, but just inquisitive)

These days , we hear so much about staying fit, eating healthy, reducing fat and sugar intake and so on. All this is important for the kind of stressful lifestyle we lead.

But, where do you start? And, how do you follow all the rules? You have to figure it out yourself. Personally, for me, it's all about portion control. I don't deprive myself of good food. But, I try to understand what's on my plate and how it will affect me. So, when I see cake, I don't run and hide. I enjoy a small slice rather than a large one. Similarly, fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains point fingers to good health. So, I opt for that kind of food too now a days.

With all due respect to those of you who have resolved to live healthy, here is the recipe for a very healthy snack.It is very comforting and helps you stay on track. It's scrumptious too. Avacadoes are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and monounsaturated fat that helps lower bad cholesterol.Guacamole is a mexican avacado dip.

Stay fit, stay healthy and Happy 2010.

Ingredients :(Serves 2)

Whole wheat tortillas - 2 ( can substitute with chapatis)

Ripe avacado - 1 ( avacado will be dark green when raw and black when ripe)

Onions - 2 tbspns(fine chopped)

Tomatoes - 1 tspn(fine chopped)

Coriander leaves - 2 tsps

Lemon juice - 1 tspn

Low-fat yogurt - 1 tbspn

Cumin powder - 1/2 tspn

Salt and pepper - to taste.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F(149 C)

Place tortillas or chapatis side by side on a tray. Do not let them overlap. Bake for 10 mins or till they are crisp like chips.

Remove from oven.Let cool. They will be completely crisp. Break them into bite size pieces and set them aside on a serving platter.

Peel and cut the avacado into small peices and coarsely mash with a fork.

In a small mixing bowl, add the avacado and all the other ingredients and mix well.

Transfer to a dipping bowl and serve.

Note: Never cook an avacado.Because of its high tannin content, the flesh turns bitter.Luv 'n' luc'Smitha

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Me back after a very very short break ;) [ just 4 months]My India trip was like one huge roller-coaster ride. It was a mix of fun and tension and alot of road trips and leisure and sunshine and intense heat. The best part was being with family and friends after a long time. And great news is that recession has not hit India as badly as it has here. India is booming. All I saw there was development, development and more development. Hurrah!

Now, being back here, and having just gotten over my jetlag, I've settled back to routine. Phew!And happy to have missed the winter and come directly to spring.

Hopefully, I should be back to blogging soon . But truth is that laziness is taking over. I should push myself to get started. Will start that processs with immediate effect.Ciao!